The last sexual abuse survivor has spoken at the sentencing hearing for Larry Nassar, a Michigan sports doctor accused of sexually assaulting women and girls, including U.S. Olympians. Nassar faces a minimum prison term of 25 to 40 years. (Jan. 24)
AP

"Was it the right way or the wrong way," Rachael Denhollander says as she addresses Circuit Judge Rosemarie Aquilina about Michigan State University's response to allegations of sexual abuse, Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018, during the sixth day of victim impact statements in Ingham County Circuit Court. Nassar is expected to be sentenced on seven sexual assault charges today.(Photo: MATTHEW DAE SMITH/Lansing State Journal)

And she had plenty to say. Denhollander was harshly critical of Michigan State University, USA Gymnastics and others, for silencing the women and girls who had spoken up about Nassar for decades, and for enabling his abuse.

“Larry is the most dangerous type of abuser,” Denhollander told the judge, because he groomed his victims and presented himself as wholesome. She later told Nassar that she pitied him.

The 155 victim impact statements before Denhollander's were filled with descriptions personal accounts of how Nassar's abuse changed lives, but also with hope that things will get better. Almost always that was couple with anger at Michigan State University, USA Gymnastics and Twistars gymnastics club in Dimondale, three organizations in which Nassar worked for decades.

"Look around the courtroom, remember what you have witnessed these past seven days," Denhollander said, likely not only address those in the courtroom but those watching live feeds from around the world. "This is what it looks like when someone chooses to put their selfish desires above the safety and love for those around them, and let it be a warning to us all.

"And moving forward as a society, this is what it looks like when the adults in authority do not respond properly to disclosures of sexual assault. This is what it looks like when institutions create a culture where a predator can flourish unafraid and unabated."

Denhollander, who now lives in Kentucky, was a 15-year-old Kalamazoo gymnast when she was abused by Nassar in 2000. She was the first to publicly say that Nassar abused her when she told the MSU Police Department and the Indianapolis Star in late 2016.

Denhollander spoke following the sentencing about comments made by Joel Furguson. Story continues below video:

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Rachael Denhollander speaks at a press conference following the sentencing hearing of Larry Nassar.
Beth LeBlanc / Lansing State Journal

Her story started a wave of new sexual assault reports against Nassar, for abuses that dated back decades and happened in his Michigan State University office, at Twistars gymnastics club in Dimondale, during treatments at his home and at gymnastics competitions around the world.

Denhollander spent much of her time detailing the instances when women and girls spoke up about Nassar and compared them to what another MSU doctor told police after Denhollander reported Nassar.

That doctor told police that Denhollander only thought she had been digitally penetrated because she didn't understand what Nassar did, Denhollander told Aquilina.

"It sounds eerily familiar to what every single woman was told," she said. "We were all wrong, we were all just confused."

The State Journal reported in June 2017 that between 1997 and 2015 at least seven women or girls had raised concerns about Nassar's actions to coaches, trainers, police or university officials. He was investigated twice by police but never charged, and at least once in an internal MSU inquiry that cleared him.

Denhollander mentioned those seven instances and more during her more than 40-minute victim-impact statement, just as she has over the past 16 months during interviews and news conferences.

"Every time I repeat these facts about the number of women who reported to employees at MSU and were silenced, you respond the exact same way," she said, speaking to the university a few miles to the east.

"You issue a press statement saying that there was no cover up because no one who heard the reports of assault believed that Larry was committing abuse. You play word games, saying you didn't know because no one believed.

"I know that. And the reason everyone who heard about Larry's abuse did not believe it is because they did not listen."

After telling her story to the Indy Star, Denhollander became the face and voice of the women and girls Nassar abused. She gave countless interviews with state, local and national media outlets. Over the past year, more and more victims, many of whom initially came forward as Jane Does, began to shed their anonymity and speak about their abuse publicly.

And over the course of Nassar's seven-day sentencing hearing, the vast majority of the 156 women and girls to give impact statements put their names on the record publicly. Many said they decided the day they spoke that they wanted to be identified, having been inspired by the courage of others.

Olympic medalists Jordyn Wieber, Aly Raisman and Jamie Dantzscher all gave impact statements in court. Assistant Attorney General Angela Povilaitis, the lead prosecutor on the case, read an impact statement from Olympian McKayla Maroney.

Many who took turns at the podium are not famous. They included high school and college students, mothers, medical professionals, members of the military and former collegiate athletes.

Denhollander said going public came with consequences.

"My sexual assault was wielded like a weapon against me," Denhollander said.

She was attacked, she added, included during the preliminary hearing when Shannon Smith, one of Nassar's attorneys, asked her if she was just coming forward now for the money.

Denhollander spoke about what she gave up to come forward, to be the first. She turned her diary over to police, to be included as evidence, to ensure they would proceed.

"I did it because it was right," she said. "No matter the cost, it was right."

Nassar, 54, formerly of Holt, pleaded guilty in November to 10 sexual assault charges split between Ingham and Eaton counties. Aquilina sentenced Nasssar on seven of those charges. One of those charges related to Denhollander.

On Jan. 31, Nassar will be sentenced on three more sexual assault charges in Eaton County. In December, a federal judge sentenced him to 60 years in prison on three federal child pornography charges.

He must serve the entirety of his federal sentence before he serves any time of his state charges.

Jacob and Rachel Denhollander hug to a standing ovation after Larry Nassar's sentence was delivered Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018, after the sixth day of victim impact statements in Ingham County Circuit Court.
MATTHEW DAE SMITH/Lansing State Journal

People in the gallery react after Larry Nassar is sentenced Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018, after the seventh day of victim impact statements in Ingham County Circuit Court. Nassar was sentenced to 40 to 175 years on sexual assault charges he pleaded guilty to last year.
MATTHEW DAE SMITH/Lansing State Journal

The Michigan Attorney General prosecution team gathers after Ingham County Circuit Judge Rosemarie Aquilina hands down her sentence Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018, after the sixth day of victim impact statements in Ingham County Circuit Court.
MATTHEW DAE SMITH/Lansing State Journal

"Was it the right way or the wrong way," Rachael Denhollander says as she addresses Circuit Judge Rosemarie Aquilina about Michigan State University's response to allegations of sexual abuse, Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018, during the sixth day of victim impact statements in Ingham County Circuit Court. Nassar is expected to be sentenced on seven sexual assault charges today.
MATTHEW DAE SMITH/Lansing State Journal

A man in the gallery looks at Larry Nassar Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018, during the seventh day of victim impact statements in Ingham County Circuit Court. Nassar was sentenced to 40 to 175 years seven sexual assault charges this week he pleaded guilty to last year.
MATTHEW DAE SMITH/Lansing State Journal

There was little reaction of the face of Larry Nassar as Ingham County Circuit Judge Rosemarie Aquilina delivered her sentence Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018, after the seventh day of victim impact statements in Ingham County Circuit Court.
MATTHEW DAE SMITH/Lansing State Journal

Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018, during the seventh day of victim impact statements in Ingham County Circuit Court. Nassar is expected to be sentenced on seven sexual assault charges this week.
MATTHEW DAE SMITH/Lansing State Journal

Larry Nassar faces Ingham County Circuit Judge Rosemarie Aquilina prior to his sentencing Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018, after the seventh day of victim impact statements in Ingham County Circuit Court. He is flanked by his defense team Matt Newburg and Molly Blythe.
MATTHEW DAE SMITH/Lansing State Journal

Kaylee Lorincz, R, is embraced by Larissa Boyce after giving her victim impact statement at the sentencing of Larry Nassar Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018 in Lansing, Michigan. Nassar was sentenced 40 to 175 years on seven sexual assault charges to which he pleaded guilty last year.
Robert Killips/Lansing State Journal

There was little reaction of the face of Larry Nassar as Ingham County Circuit Judge Rosemarie Aquilina delivered her sentence Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018, after the seventh day of victim impact statements in Ingham County Circuit Court.
MATTHEW DAE SMITH/Lansing State Journal

Jacob and Rachel Denhollander hug to a standing ovation after Larry Nassar's sentence was delivered Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018, after the sixth day of victim impact statements in Ingham County Circuit Court.
MATTHEW DAE SMITH/Lansing State Journal

Jacob and Rachel Denhollander hug to a standing ovation after Larry Nassar's sentence was delivered Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018, after the sixth day of victim impact statements in Ingham County Circuit Court.
MATTHEW DAE SMITH/Lansing State Journal

With her coach at her side, gymnast Kaylee Lorincz prepares to make her victim impact statement Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018, during the final day of victim impact statements in Ingham County Circuit Court.
MATTHEW DAE SMITH/Lansing State Journal

People in the gallery react, along with prosecuting team, react as Kaylee Lornicz gives her impact statement Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018, on the seventh day of victim impact statements in Ingham County Circuit Court.
MATTHEW DAE SMITH/Lansing State Journal

Rachael Denhollander wipes a tear from her eye as Larry Nassar is sentenced Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018, during the sixth day of victim impact statements in Ingham County Circuit Court.
MATTHEW DAE SMITH/Lansing State Journal

People in the gallery react, along with prosecuting team, react as Kaylee Lornicz gives her impact statement Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018, on the seventh day of victim impact statements in Ingham County Circuit Court.
LSJ, nassar sentencing hearing - day seven wednesday

Annie Labrie, right, hugs Rita Wieber, outside the courtroom on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018, during a break in Larry Nassar's sentencing hearing at the Veterans Memorial Courthouse in downtown Lansing. Labrie said she testified against Nassar in the summer.
Nick King/Lansing State Journal

Akemi Look, formerly known as Taryn Look, articulates her anger while talking about Larry Nassar during a press conference on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018, at the Radisson in downtown Lansing. Look was on the U.S. national gymnastics team.
Nick King/Lansing State Journal

Rachael Denhollander, center, stands with others who accused Larry Nassar of abuse during a press conference on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018, at the Radisson in downtown Lansing.
Nick King/Lansing State Journal

Attorney John Manley speaks during a press conference where those who accused Larry Nassar of abuse spoke on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018, at the Radisson in downtown Lansing.
Nick King/Lansing State Journal

Sue Moore, left holds her daughter Danielle Moore as they leave the courtroom where the sentencing of Larry Nassar was held Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018 in Lansing, Michigan.
Robert Killips | Lansing State Journal

Supporters of the female athletes victimized by Larry Nassar hold signs outside the courthouse where he is sentenced Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018 in Lansing, Michigan
Robert Killips | Lansing State Journal

Rachael Denhollander, speaking directly to Larry Nassar asks how much is a little girl worth at the sentencing of Nassar Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018 in Lansing, Michigan.
Robert Killips | Lansing State Journal